This honestly isn't something that I'd ever thought of.

Some solutions off the top of my head would be the addition of vehicle specific modules for dropsuits being added to the game. If this happened then the proto versions of these dropsuits would be worthwhile because you could fit more vehicle modules on your proto pilot suit.

Though an easier way to handle this would be to have the passive suit bonus as well as a bonus that is set up on the dropsuit itself, say the Pilot Dropsuit skill adds 10% of X and the Dropsuit itself would add 5%/7%/10% additional X depending on whether you're using STD/ADV/PRO

Considering the expense of a tank or well fitted dropship and LAVs, I disagree.

Besides, good vehicle users already do this.

lolwut

We die once, we're out a million.

You think we hop in the pilot seat/pod with a PROTO suit on? Ha!

Well, if you paid attention, you would see that, like we're all saying other than you, that there would be some kind of extra something that the adv. and PROTO ones would get over the STD ones. That's obvious. A skill wouldn't be enough.

All suits should have a bonus

Militia and Standard suits should get a static bonus that reflects the suit's role.

Advanced should get the standard static and a leveled bonus that is race specific.

Prototype should get the static, racial and then a weapon bonus that is leveled.

Militia and standard Amarr assault could have 10% better armor reps.
Advanced would have a 5% per level heat build up reduction per level and 10% better reps.
The proto suits could have 5% to heat per level, 10% better reps and then 2% per level LR range.

This type of progress would allow muliple suits of each type in every tier and let mercs really use a suit to the fullest. I don't really like the differences in suits because they are bland. The prototype suits and advanced suits are just more of the same thing and they don't have much of a difference besides more slots and resources. They should be different or do something more specialized.

The pilot suit is a perfect example. If the bonuses are set up like they are with the other suits then there is not a reason to go proto. Why would I spend more on a suit that isn't going to help me 99% of the time.

Standard - 10% resistance to damage - race specific.
Advanced - 10% resistance with 2% per level CPU/PG increase.
Prototype - 10% resistance, 2% per level to resources and 1% increase to turret damage per level - race specific.

Anything we can do to make the game more diverse and offer different play styles that isn't more tank and an AR should be looked at and considered.